British Press Critical Of Campaign By Dr. Rhee

Press, Volume XCII, Issue 27735, 12 August 1955, Page 11

British Press Critical Of Campaign By Dr. Rhee

(Rec. 9 p.m.) LONDON. August 11. The agitation of the South Korean Government for the withdrawal of the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission and its proposal to assume control of territory south of the 38th Parallel, which falls under North Korean administration under the arm’<’ce agreement, are described by “ he Times” in a leading article as “intemperate demands.” “There is no direct connexion between the two. The commission has not had a happy history, but to abolish it would be a confession of failure, particularly unfortunate at the present moment. "There is nothing to justify the intemperate ultimatum which the South Korean Government has s°nt, demanding the commission’s withdrawal by next Saturday. “The claim for territory south of the parallel has no justification, and to countenance it would be to undermine th« armistice itself.” The "Daily Telegraph.” in a leading reticle, says that the threats by Dr. Syngman Rhee to exnel , Communist members of the commission, if necessary by force, “must, and will be. resisted by the United Nations command.” “However much the South Koreans may seem more smned against than sinning, th" duty of the United Nations is clear. Their forces should be able to maintain order without serious difficult-’. “But this is only the short-term objective. and does hot b°gin to mec f the real challenge to Western nolicy. Sooner or later the United Nations must recognise that the armistice., agreement is a dead letter and that Dr. Rhee cannot reasonably be expected to tolerate for ever the flagrant and consistent defence of the truce in the north. , “Dr. Rhee that thA te-m e of armisticA. to which he agreed with the

greatest unwillingness, have never bean honoured, and his people see no alternative to force. “The United Nations cannot accept his use of mob violence, but short of renewing hostilities with the north, there is very little they can do to punish breaches of the armistice, and still less to honour the pledge to work towards the reunification of the peninsula. “But if there is nothing far-reaching the Allies can do to meet long-term South Korean aspirations, it does seem time that some positive action should be taken to put’an end to the Supervisory Commission. “The view of its Swiss and Swedish members that Jts work should stop cannot be ignored by the United Nations,” says the “Daily Telegraph.”